Fire-escape



Y 'TUNITEID STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX KOLOSEUS, OF OHIGAGO,ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

S PECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,989, dated May 31,1898. Application filed December 30, 1897. serial No. 664,578. (Nomodel.)

To all whom i may c nc rn: This tower is provided with a roof R and isBe it known that 1, MAX KOLOSEUS, a citisecurely fastened to afoundation and is arzen of the United States, residing at Chicago,ranged at a considerable distance from the in the countyofCook. andState of Illinois, side or wall of a building 13, whether it be a 5 haveinvented certain new and useful Imschool,theater, hospital,l1otel,insane'asylum, provements in-FirerEs'capes; and I do declaremanufactory, or-any other kind of building the following to be a'full,clear, andexact decontaining a large number of children, peoscription ofthe invention, such as will enable ple, or employees ot'any kind who incase of others skilled in the art to which it appertains a fire desireto escape easily and safely from IO to make and use the same, referencebeing the building. This tower-is connected to the had to theaccompanying drawings, and to building, of any kind, by a series ofbridges the letters of reference marked thereon,which 0, arranged tocorrespond with the level of form a part of this specification. everyfloor of said building and communicate My invention relates to thatclass of firewith it through suitable doors or openings. I5 escapes inwhich a' toweris arranged at a dis- These bridges O are made ofangle-irons c or tance from a, building and provided with equivalentsand are firmly riveted, bolted, or bridges connected to said building,and stairs otherwise connected to the uprights of the in the tower, andemployed for the escape of tower at one end and to the wall of the theoccupants from a burning building. building at the other end. Saidbridges are 20 The objects of my invention are to produce provided withsheet-iron or other metal or ready and accessible means of escape incasewooden floors and have metal railings d. of fire in schools for theschool-children or Between the railings and the floors of the infactories of any kind for the escape of the bridges C wire screens e ortheir equivalents employees, as well as in case of hotels, theaarearranged to prevent any possibility of fire 25 acre, hospitals, or anyother buildings 0011- or flames reaching a person passingalong thetaining a large number of persons desiring a bridges. ready andexpeditiousexit from a burning The tower is to be inclosed or coveredwith building; also, to furnish this ready exit so sheet-iron oritsequivalent to prevent flames that it can be produced in a veryinexpensive from a burning building entering, although 30 but at thesame time very secure and safe any other equivalent fireproof materialmay manner, and, finally, that it will not deteriobe employed. From onefloor to the other rate or mar the appearance of the building. arearranged suitable ladders or stairs E, With these ends in view myinvention 0011- which are also provided with railings f,so that sists inthe peculiar construction of certain the descentorascentcanbeaccomplishedwith 3 5 details and the arrangement of parts, as willperfect safety within the tower, and it may be more fully describedhereinafter and spebe desirable for the firemen Who serve in exeificallypointed out in the claim, reference tinguishing of the fire to ascend ordescend, being had to the accompanying drawings and as necessityrequires, with perfect safety and the letters marked'thereon.convenience. 40 Like letters indicate similar parts in the To preventany person being injured or different figures of the drawingsfinwhichburned by flamesin passing along the bridges,

Figure 1 represents a side view of my im- Iarrange betweenthe floors andthe railings of proved fire-escape with the covering removed; thebridges, as stated, wire screens e'ofsuit- Fig. 2 is a cross-section ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is able mesh, which may be extended over the 5 45 ahorizontal section; on line of Fig. 1. top andsides to form completegangways.

In the accompanying drawings, A repre- This is a very important featureof my insents the main part or tower of my improved vention, although,if desired, curtains of simifire-escape, which is preferably made ofanglelar or equivalent fireproof material may be iron posts a, T-irons,or their equivalent, and arranged for the same purpose; no

so there may be four, six, or more such posts, The lower steps or laddermay be hinged, as according to'the size and strength required. at e, tothe floor, so that when not in use they may be out of the way andprevent ascent and to be lowered only in case of fire, when required.

If desired, a ladder F may be arranged on the outside of the tower foruse of firemen, and a stand-pipe G, with branches and valves for hose,may be placed near one corner of the tower. Instead of angle-irons atthe corners orintermediately, T-iron pipes or tubes, and, if desired,water circulated through them, may be employed. The treads of the stepsmay be made of cast-iron, steel, or wood. The latter being more safe andcomfortable may be used and can be arranged in any suitable manner. Thetower may be made rectangular, square, octagonal, orothersuitable shape.

The floors of the bridges can be made of wire screens supported bycross-bars, and they may be hinged to one side of the frame of thebridges, as at e, and usually secured to the railings of said bridgesand lowered in case of fire only. This prevents snow or ice accumulatingon them in case of winter or extreme cold weather.

The many advantages of my fire-escape will be apparent to all, and amongthem may be cited the following: In case of schools the children canreadily pass over the bridges and descend the steps without danger. Anyperson can pass over the bridges without the danger of being burned. Thetower, being some distance from the main building, will not becomeheated and the flames and smoke not affect persons ascending ordescending. The firemen can more readily approach close to the fire tofight the fire, and losses by fire will be greatly reduced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is In a fire-escape, afixed metal tower, a series of floors therein, each floor provided withan opening, a series of ladders depending from said floors, thelowermost ladder beinghinged to its floor, a series of bridges securedto said tower adjacent the floors, and wire screens hinged to saidbridges substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of'two witnesses.

MAX KOLOSEUS.

\Vitnesses:

CHAs. DEUBLON, ALFRED MARLAND.

